‘Teach in’ on Energy and Existing Homes– restoring neighbourhoods and slowing climate change

Homes that have already built account for 99% of our total housing stock. We estimate that86% of the current stock will still be in use in 2050. Building new homes is carbon intensiveand implies many wider environmental impacts. But the existing stock can be made moreefficient, at a reasonable cost, to realise many environmental and social gains. Homes areresponsible for 27% of our total CO2 emissions through their energy use, for half of publicwater use, and they generate large amounts of total UK waste. Large savings can beachieved using technologies that are readily available, cost effective and cheaper than manyalternatives. In addition, construction waste contributes to 33% of the total UK waste stream.LSE Housing held two workshops in June 2008 to explore how to retrofit the existing stock.The workshops specifically looked at demonstrating the links between neighbourhoodrenewal, social cohesion and energy conservation. Participants included managers ofexisting homes, regeneration companies, local authorities, and housing associations as wellas policy makers. The aim of the workshop was to share experience on how to make theexisting stock both more attractive and more energy efficient with big gains for theenvironment and communities.[...]